Amaechi warns communities over attacks on estate developers

By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT-HARCOURTâ€”Â GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi has warned youths and communities harassing contractors and property developers for levies, tagged â€˜marching groundâ€™, to stop forthwith as their action could earn them three years in jail.

The governor also warned dubious individuals that engaged in dispossessing people of their legitimate landed property to desist from such, as they could also find themselves in jail.

Amaechi made these known during a Town Hall meeting with the people of Obio/Akpor local govern-ment area at the council headquarters, Rumuodoman-ya.

The governor was reacting to complaints of high handedness towards contractors of development projects in the state. He revealed that an executive bill would soon be forwarded to the state House of Assembly to prohibit all forms of levies which youths and commu-nity leaders impose on contractors and land develo-pers.

According to him, â€œin the next one month, the state government would ensure that offenders of all forms of community levies, including marching ground, bush entry, community development levy, etc, face three years imprisonment.â€

He explained that the construction of the second phase of model primary healthcare centers would commence in March, noting that Obio/Akpor had received its fair share of government projects.

Amaechi pointed out that government was determined to fight all forms of violence in the state by making relevant laws, so that those who contravene them would be punished.

He reiterated governmentâ€™s earlier warning that members of the public should not sell or buy land within areas designated as the new Greater Port Harcourt City, as no property developed within the area without authorization would be spared by government.

The governor promised to sign the Child Rights Bill into law as soon as the State House of Assembly passed it, stressing that his administration was in support of the protection of the rights of children.